ANN CLARKE

“The compositional relationships in my paintings are made of subtle colours, textures, lines and surfaces – with shapes that have been invented and more recently collaged from the recycled packaging left over from our daily living. Each painting is a composition made by one human being, designed to surprise and to be enjoyed visually by other human beings: to be a painting that will stand the test of repeated viewing and continue to satisfy ongoing contemplation over time. These paintings are made to stay the same and to be enjoyed, while everything else in our world is always undergoing change.” Ann Clarke, 2021

Bio

Clarke’s work is predominantly abstract painting and drawing, with some sculpture, installation and printmaking.

Living and exhibiting in Canada for more than 50 years after graduating from the Slade School of Fine Art at the University of London in 1966. She came to Canada in 1968, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1973. She has lived in Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland. During the period from 1969-1979 she was known as Ann Clarke Darrah. Born in Britain, Clarke received her art education at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London University, graduating in 1966.

Clarke has taught at many institutions in Canada, including The Banff Centre, University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and Queen’s and Guelph Universities. From 1992 she taught in the Department of Visual Arts at Lakehead University, and retired in 2009 as Professor Emerita. In 2008 Clarke was elected to membership of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art.

Since 1969 Ann Clarke has had over thirty solo exhibitions in Canada and since 1966 has shown work in more than ninety group shows in Britain, Canada and the U.S.A. Her work is in public and private collections in Canada, Britain, U.S.A. and Australia.